I suspect the passage of time has altered much and never more so than in the case of our expectations. The first automotive club I joined was that of the Norton motor cycle club, and at the time in my area it was run by a couple of guys who had access to a Gestetner printing machine printing and sending out an A4 sheet by post...As a club it was a means of helping each other and sharing knowledge of mechanical trips and fixes. Back then it was not unusual to carry spare spark plugs, chain links and even clutch "corks" in ones pocket, using fag packet paper to gauge spark plug gaps and inner wrapping thickness to measure contact breaker gaps... I expect that Evolution has changed much..?
These days with the majority of the population carrying access to the interweb and everything on it in their pocket, even us old f*rts can access most things we might have interest in by the same means..? , As for the youngsters it seems instant access is just not fast enough..!
I am a member of three clubs one has a real glossy magazine, and very nice photographs but just as Miscellany has been criticised for it follows a very similar format and it from the usual reports and pictures in which club members appear, they would seem to be ..err..somewhat of the baby boomer generation.
The third club seems much like my Norton club was, though the news letter is a pretty simple affair and sent out via email, the age group of members is very similar in that they too are mostly baby boomers . Some still engage in a bit of spanner work but the numbers are dwindling of those happy to roll around a garage floor, or worse still try a repair (other than a simple fix) out on the road on an old car. As for the modern stuff... Cell phone and breakdown service, seems the logical route...
In the words of Dylan, "The times they are a changin. "
